If you need to stop in the middle of a project, make it easier to pick up where you left off by writing yourself a little “Next Action” note. On a brightly colored Post-it, placed directly onto the document, indicate where you left off and write down the very step you need to take next. For example: “Read last three pages, write summary, highlight changes, check the address, draft closing paragraph.” Investing a minute to mark your spot before you stop will save you time currently lost to getting reoriented.

            According to a study by the Institute for Advanced Management Systems, it take at least twenty minutes to get back to the level of concentration that had been attained before the disruption. Leaving a Next Action Post-it can eliminate that reorientation time completely.